responsiblestatecraft.org – Iran held its 11th parliamentary elections late last month, handing a resounding victory to hardline and conservative forces during perhaps Iran’s most tumultuous few months since the 2009 Green Movement demonstrations. The elections were held after months of recession resulting from economic sanctions, the brutal November 2019. Government crackdown that left hundreds dead, Iran moving to the brink …

Reuters – Iranian merchants plying the busy Strait of Hormuz between Dubai and Iran fear their next trip home will be a one-way trip after the United Arab Emirates banned ferry services to prevent the spread of coronavirus.Workers load goods onto a dhow bound for Iran along the creek in old Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 2, 2020. Picture taken …

Al-Arabia – Iran on Thursday reported 15 new deaths from the novel coronavirus and 591 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the toll to 107 dead and 3,513 infected. “Until today, samples have been taken of 23,327 suspected cases, only 3,513 of which have been confirmed,” health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a televised news conference. “Unfortunately 15 …

Radiofarda – An Iranian news agency on Thursday reported that the sanctioned Mahan Airline has continued its flights to China despite the government ban on February 14. The airline is widely blamed by the Iranian public for the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran. The Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) on Thursday morning titled its article, “Story of Continuation of …

Radiofarda – Iran has cancelled Friday Prayers for a second week across major cities amid the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which has claimed 92 lives so far. Mohammad-Javad Haj Ali-Akbar, Chairman of the Friday Prayers Policy-Making Council, on Wednesday made the cancellation announcement and said the decision was made in compliance with the Coronavirus Combat Task Force. The Council draws …

Radiofarda – An official of a university in the Iranian capital Tehran has said that the Ministry of Science has ordered universities to form committees to prevent suicides and “harmful behaviors” in all universities. Gholamreza Latifi, Student Affairs Deputy of Allameh Tabatabai University told the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) on Wednesday that his university has already formed such a …

Radiofarda – Iran’s trade with its main partners dropped dramatically in January 2020 compared with last year when U.S. sanctions on oil exports were only partial. India’s Ministry of Economy on March 3 issued its January trade report, which shows imports from Iran dropping by 97 percent compared with January 2019. Last year, India imported $1.2 billion of oil and …

HRANA – Amir Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, Mohammad Rajabi, and Mojgan Eskandari, and Shima R. who were arrested for their attendance in the last November protests were tried on the same case. Mr. Moradi, Mr. Tamjidi, and Mr. Rajabi were sentenced to execution, imprisonment, and lashes. Their attorneys have requested an appeal in the last week of February 2020. It should …

Iran-HRM – The family of Abbas Asgari do not have any information on his fate since he was arrested on December 15, 2019 by the IRGC Intelligence. Abbas Asgari, 34, lived in Zarganshahr of Ahvaz. The authorities’ failure to provide any information to the family has caused more serious concern. On November 16, 2019, Reza Neissi was shot and killed …

Iran-HRM – Saber Rezaii, a wounded protester arrested during the nationwide protests in November 2019, has been detained for more than three months in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary without completing his medical treatment. Saber Rezaii was shot and wounded by security forces in the city of Quds outside Tehran on November 16. He was taken to hospital, but got arrested there. After …